Alarm-signal mechanism.



@ATT No. 880,134. A PATENTAED FEB. 25, 1908. E. E. FLORA 6L R. J. ZORGE. ALARM SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNI; 19, 1907. B SHBETS SHEET L www A R5 Z'as mm@ QAM,

PATENTBD FEB. 25, 19,08. E. E. `FLRA & R. J. ZORGE. ALARM SIGNAL MECHANISM.

'APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1907.

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No. 880,134. PATENTED PEB. 25, ,l908. E'. E. FLORA & R. J. ZORGE. ALARM SIGNAL MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1907.

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ALARM SIGNAL MRGHANISM,

APPLIUATION ILED JUNE 19. 1907.l

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PATENTED FEB. 25,r 1908. E. E. FLORA & R. J. ZORGE. ALARM SIGNAL MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 19. 1907.

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Y PATBNTBD H1125, 1908,` E. E. PLoRA & R. J. ZORGB. ALARM SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED'JUNE 19. 1907.

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y PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908. E. E. FLRA a R. J. ZORGE.

ALARM SIGNAL MEGHANISM. APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 19, 1907.

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ALARM SIGNAL MEGHANISM. APPLICATION 'FILED JUNI: 19. 1907.

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No. 880,134.4 PATENTE-.D H325. 1903.

E. E. FLORA & P.. J. ZORGE.

ALARM SIGNAL MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE'19. 1907.

9 SHBETS-SHEET 9.

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ELLSWORTI-I E. FLORA AND ROBERT J. ZORGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO ZORGE SAFETY RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ALARM-SIGNAL MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application led June 19. 1907. Serial No. 379.792-

T 0 all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that we, ELLswoRTH E. FLORA and ROBERT J. ZORGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Alarm-Signal Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to means for giving warning to an engineer, or motorrnan, approaching an open switch, or an open draw, with his train, or car; and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus involving the use of a device which will be preparatorily set when the switch is thrown open and which will operate to detonate a torpedo, or explosive body, lwhen the train passes over it, approaching the switch.

In the present invention, according to the preferred embodiment, there are employed a rotary torpedo-carrier equipped with a plurality of radially-movable torpedo-carrying slides; means for imparting a step-bystep movement to the carrier 5 a slide-actuating member or ejector a gear-train serving to actuate the ejector and carrier-rotating means; a clutch controlling the movement of the carrier-actuating meansand controlled, in turn, by the ejector; a weight motor serving to actuate the gear-train; and an electric winding motor serving to wind the weight-supporting cord of the weight or gravity motor after each actuation of the ejector, the gravity motor being designed to actuate the ejector and carrier a large number of times, even though the winding motor should fail to operate. In the preferred construction, also, the ejector is actuated through the medium of a telescopic connecting-rod, one of whose members is equipped with an armature and the other with a magnet, the ejector being equipped with a weight which serves to move it outwardly when said. magnet is denergized; and the gear-train is equipped with a magnetcontrolled lock which controls the movement of the gear-train. The magnets mentioned are controlled by a track circuit, as will be hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated in the preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1. represents a diagrammatic view of a portion of a railway track equipped with this improved alarm device; Fig. 2, a plan view of torpedo-placing mechanism employed, the casing-top thereof being removed; Fig. 3, a section taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a plan section taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a vertical section taken as indicated at line 5 of- Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a broken section taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 4 and showing the electric motor employed and the weight or gravity motor and a portion of the train of gears employed; Fig. 6, a broken section taken as indicated at line 6L of Fig. 4 and showing a ratchet device connecting the drum of the gravitymotor with the train of gears which it actuates; Fig. 7, a broken section taken as indicated at line 7 of Fig. 4 and showing a stop lever for the gear-train and a magnet and cam wheel controlling the same; Fig. 8, a sectional view of the drum of the gravity motor and the attendant parts, the section being taken as indicated at line S of Fig. 4, Fig. 9, a view of the circuit-controlling switch shown ,in the upper portion of Fig. 8, the view of Fig. 9 being taken as indicated at line 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 9 Fig. 11, a broken bottom view of the rotary torpedocarrier; Fig. 12, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 12 of Fig. 2 and showing one of the arms of the torpedo-carrier and a slide mounted thereon; Fig. 13, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 13 of Fig. 4 and showing the ejector or slide-actuating member and the rock-shaft which actuates it Fig. 14, a section taken as indicated at line 14 of Fig. 4 and showing the telescopic connecting-rod employed and a magnet for maintaining the telescoping members of said connecting rod normally in the position shown in Fig. 14; Fig. 15, a broken section taken as indicated at line 15 of Fig. 14 and showing a detail of the connection between one of the telescoping members and the member of the corresponding electro-magnet; Fig. 16, a view diagrammatic in its nature illustrating the circuit of the magnet of the telescopic connecting-rod employed, the circuits of the magnets controlling the locking lever for the gear-train and a latch for said locking lever, and a circuit controlling the circuits just mentioned; and Fig. 17, a view diagrammatic in its nature illustrating the circuit of the electric winding motor employed.

It may be preliminarily stated that in the view shown in Fig. 1, the rotary torpedo-carrier is represented as controlled by an electric circuit, which is controlled by a branch circuit connected with the switch point of the railway track and is further controlled by two-electric circuits connected with two insulated sections o f the railway track, The torpedo-placing device is arranged to operate to place a torpedo beneath a train approaching the switch-point in the direction indicated by the arrow, in the event that the branch circuit isinterrupted at the switchpoint, and the torpedo-placing device will not operate to place a torpedo beneath a train passing in the opposite direction, that is, away .from the switch-point, unless the electric circuit connected with the intermediate insulated track section shown in Fig. 1 is broken. In the operation of placing a torpedov upon the track when the controlling circuit of the torpedo-placing mechanism is broken, as happens when a train approaches the open switch, the mechanism operates to thrust one of the radially-movable torpedo-holders outwardly and thereby locate a torpedo above the adjacent track rail, and when the controlling circuit is restored, the mechanism operates to withdraw the projected torpedo holder. In the event the torpedo is exploded before the withdrawal of the torpedo-holder, the holder makes a complete inward movement and thereupon the mechanism operates to revolve the torpedo-carrier one step to bring a fresh torpedo into alinement with the opening in the casing. In the event the torpedo is not discharged before withdrawal, the torpedo-holder makes an incomplete inward movement and the clutch device which controls the rotary movement of theV torpedocarrier is not operated to cause the torpedocarrier to rotate. The ejector arm is normally actuated by a weight when the controlling circuit is broken and the ejector-holding magnet is denergized, and at the instant the circuit of said magnet is broken the circuit of the lock-controlling magnet which controls the gravity actuated motor is broken, permitting said motor to operate to cause the ejector-controlling magnet to follow its armature so as to be in readiness to retract said armature when the controllingcircuit is restablished. When the weight ofthe gravity motor descends far enough to retract the ejector, the circuit of the electric winding motor is automatically established and the weight-supporting cord is rewound; the circuit of the winding motor being automatically broken when the rewinding operation is completed..

In the preferred construction, A represents a railway track electrically divided into sections A1, A2 and A3, the section A1 having con nected therewith a side track A4, and a switch-point A5 operated by any convenient means (not shown) B, torpedo placing mechanism controlled by a circuit B1 having a branch Bv2 adapted to be broken when the switch-point A5 is open to admit a train to the side-track, and having a branch B3 controlled by circuits connected with the track 5 B1, an electric circuit connected with the track section A3 and controlling the branch B3 of the circuit B1 B5, an electric circuit connected with the track section A2 and serving, in connection with the circuit B1, to control the branch B.3 of the circuit B1; and C, a visual signal, which, in connection with the alarm or detonating signal B is controlled by the circuit B1. It may be stated here that the circuit B4 has in it a magnet whose armature controls a circuit breaker with which the circuit B1 is equipped, and the circuit B5 has in it a magnet which has two armatures, one of which serves as a lock for said first-named armature and the. other of which servesy as a lock for its companion armature. Also, the circuit B5 is provided at dierent points with batteries, or generators, one of which is ada ted to be short circuited by a train, there f partially denergizing the magnet in said' circuit and permitting that armature of said magnet which is most easily released to fall back into position to lock the armature ofthe magnet in the circuit B4, while it is itself sustained by its companion locking armature. The visual signal is controlled from the circuit B1 through the medium of. a relay, and the torpedo placing device is controlled through the medium of said visual signal and an additional relay.

The device B comprises a casing havin@ a lower portion 1 of substantially rectangular form and adapted to fit between ties 2, and having lan upper portion 3 of circular form equipped with flanges 4 adapted to be supported on the ties; a swinging casing-top 5 adapted to be thrown back to permit access to the interior of the casing; a pivoted disk or plate 6 in the upper portion of the casing and between which and the casing-top is a carrier-chamber 7 a rotary carrier 8 equipped centrally with astud 9 journaled in a bearing 10 with which the disk 6 is provided centrally; radially-slidable torpedo-carrying members 11 connected with the carrier 8; suitably-spaced frame-plates 12 (Figs. 3, 4, 5), connected by bolts 13 with flanges 14 depending from the plate 6 into the lower portion 1 of the casing and serving to support the gear-train and other movable parts of the mechanism; a slide-actuating rock-arm or ejector 15 having its end journaled on a rockshaft 16 (Figs. 3 and 13) and actuated throuvh the medium of a bifurcated member 1.7 rigiy connected with the shaft 1 6 an actuating-arm 18 for the rock-shaft 16 connected by a magnet-equipped telescopic connecting-member 19 with a wrist-pin 20 on a segmental gear 21 a shaft 22 on which the segmental gear 21 is secured, said shaft being actuated by a gear 23 fixed thereon and meshing with a gear 24 on a shaft 25; a gear 26 journaled on a shaft 27 and equipped With a paWl 28, said gear 26 meshing with the gear 24; a drum 29 journaled on the shaft 27 and equipped at one end With a ratchet Wheel 30 coacting` With the paWl 28; a rope or cable 31 Wound on the drum 29 and having attached thereto a Weight 32, it being here observed that. when the Weight 32 is permitted to actuate the drum, motion is transmitted through the paWl and ratchet Wheel and the gears 28, 24 and 23 to the shaft 22, Which actuates the segmental gear 21 With Which the connecting rod 19 is connected; a gear 33 attached to one end of the drum 29- and journaled on the shaft 27; a segmental gear 34 journaled on a shaft 35 and serving, in the Winding operation, to actuate the drum through the medium of the gear 33; a gear 36 journaled on the shaft 35 and rigidly secured to and serving to actuate the segmental gear 34; a pinion 37 fixed on a sleeve 38 journaled on the shaft 27 and serving to actuate the gear 36; a gear 39 fixed to the opposite end of the sleeve 38 and serving to actuate said sleeve, said gear 39 meshing With a pinion 40 by Which it is actuated, said pinion 40 being fixed on and actuated by the shaft 35; a Worm Wheel 41 fixed on the shaft 35 and serving to actuate the same; an electric motor 42 having a shaft equipped With a Worm 43 meshing With the Worm Wheel 41, it being here observed that motion may be transmitted from the motor to the Worm Wheel 41, thence to the shaft 35, thence to the pinion 40, thence to the gear 39, thence through the sleeve 38 to the pinion 37, thence to the gear 36, thence to the segmental gear 34, and thence through the gear 33 to the drum 29; a gear 44 adapted to be actuated by the segmental gear 21, said gear 44 being secured to a horizontal shaft 45 equipped With a bevel gear 46 Which communicates motion to a bevel gear 47 journaled on a vertical shaft 48 Whose upper end eX- tends through the plate 6 and is equipped above said plate with a crank 49 Which serves to actuate the rotary carrier; a clutch member 50 splined on the shaft 48 and adapted to engage a clutch member formed integrally With the bevel gear 47; a clutch-shifting bellcrank lever 51 supported on a pivot 52 carried by a lug 53 depending from the plate 6; an actuating-rod 54 connected with said bellcrank lever, it being here observed that motion may be transmitted intermittently from the segmental gear 21 to the rotary carrier, through the medium of the gear 44, shaft 45, bevel gears 46, 47, the clutch members mentioned, the shaft 48 and the crank 49; a gear 55 secured on the shaft 22 and meshing with a pinion 56 secured on a shaft 57; a gear 58 secured on the shaft 57 and serving to actu ate a Apinion 59 secured on a shaft 60; a gear 61 secured on the shaft 60 and meshing With a pinion 62 secured on a shaft 63; ya gear 64 secured 4on the shaft 63 and meshing With a pinion 65 secured on a shaft 66 equipped with a fan 67 and with stops 68 and 69, it being here observed that motion Will be transmitted, when the gravity motor is operated, through the train of gears last described, to the fan shaft 66; a magnet-actuated, camcontrolled locking lever 70 serving to engage either the stop 68 or the stop 69 (Figs. 4, 7 and`16), according to the position of said locking lever, said locking lever being sup ported on a pivot 71 and equipped with a Weight arm 72 bearing a Weight 73; a pair of cam arms 74, 75 carried by said locking lever and adapted to engage opposite sides of a cam Wheel 76 secured on and actuated by the shaft 22, said cam Wheel 76 being provided on opposite sides With recesses 77 and'78 adapted to receive the inturned ends of the bifurcations or arms 74 and 75, respectively, of the locking lever; a magnet 79 serving to actuate the lever 70 against the force of the Weight 7 3 When the circuit 80 of said magnet is closed; a locking latch 81 for the locking lever 70, said latch 81 being supported on a pivot 82; magnets 83 and 84 controlling said latch lever; an electric circuit 85 containing a battery 86 and controlling the magnet 83 and containing also an electro-magnet 87 controlling the circuits of the magnets 79 and 84 and controlling also the circuit 88 of the electro-magnet carried by the telescopic connecting-rod 19; an electric circuit 89 through Which current is supplied to the motor 42 from a generator' 90, said circuit 89 being provided, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, With contact-members 91 and 92; a circuit-controll ing switch. 93 supported` on a pivot 94 and equipped with an actuating-arm 95 and With a latch-engaging lug 96; a latch 97 for said switch supported on a pivot 98 and equipped with a Weight 99 and an actuating-arm 100; a frame-member 101 (Figs. 8 and 10) supporting said latch and equipped With a guide 102; and a latch-actuating rod 103 movable in the guide 102 and a second guide 104 and adapted to be actuated by the Weight 32, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

The casing 1 of the torpedo-placing mechanism B may be of any suitable form, but it is preferably of the form illustrated. It is equipped above one of the flanges 4 with pivot-lugs 105, and is equipped above the other one of the flanges 4 With securing lugs 106, Whereat the free or swinging edge of the cover may be secured, as by means of the member 107 shown in Fig. 5. The inner casing-plate 6 is equipped with pivot-lugs 108 supported on a pivot 109, as shown in Fig. 3, said pivot being suitably supported by the casing.

The free edge of the plate 6 rests on a support 110. The mechanism is carried by the ioo plate 6 and the plates 12 depending therefrom, so that when the plate 6 is swung upon its pivot, as may be accomplished by a handle 111 (Fig. 2), the mechanism will be swung out of the casing and subject to inspection. This may be accomplished by first removing they rotary carrier 8.v The -inner casing-plate 6 is equipped centrally on its upper surface with a ring-shaped flange 112, as shown in Fig. 3, and said flange is provided on the side toward the opening 113 of the casing with a slot 114 which registers with ay radialslot 115 with which the plate 6 is provided and in which the upper portion of the slide-actuating arm 15 works. Th any suitable construction. As shown, it comprises a disk equipped with projecting arms 116, and it has radial recesses or guides 117 on its upper surface which receive the slidable torpedo-holders 11. The bottoms .of the recesses or guides 117 are provided with radial slots 118. As shown in Fig. 11, the underside of the carrier .is equipped with radial flanges 119 joined at their inner ends by curved flanges surfaces adapted to be engaged by the crank 49 on the shaft 48, for the purpose of actuating the carrier. able'slide 11 comprises a shank equipped at its inner end with a depending lug .121 adapted to be engaged by the bifurcated head of the rock-arm 15. Said lugs 121 work normally within the ring of annular flange 112 during the rotation of the carrier. The outer end of each torpedo-holder 11 is equipped with lateral lugs 122 which normally rest upon flangesl 123 flanking the recesses 117 of the torpedo-carrier, and when the torpedo-holder is thrust outwardly, said lugs riding off the ends of the lianges 123 permit the outer end of the torpedoholder to drop slightly so that the lugs 122 are in position to engage the outer ends of the flanges v123 and prevent completion of the inward movement of retraction of the torpedo-holder in the event that the torpedo is not exploded or used. This expedient serves to prevent rotation of the torpedocarrier in a manner to be explainedpresently. The torpedo-holders are equipped at their Each radially-movouter ends with torpedoes 124, and the shanks,

of the torpedoes are weakened `adjacent to the torpedoes by perforations 125, so that the shank will be readily broken when the explosion occurs. The shanks are of frangible cast-metal to enabl this to be effectively accomplished.

As has been indicated, the slide-actuating arm 15 is actuated by the member 17 which is rigidly mounted on the rock-shaft 16, the slide-actuating arm being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit a certain amount of idle movement of the member 17 before the arm 15 is actuated. The member 17 is proe rotary carrier 8 may be ofl 120, thus affording camvided at its upper end with two laterallyprojecting1 lugs or stops 126, 127 (Figs. 3 and 13) adapted toengage the arm 15. A spring 128 tends to hold the arm 15 in engagement with the stop 126.

tends normally to rotate the in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, movement of the rocl -shaft being restrained by the electro-magnet with which the telescoping connecting-rod 1 9 is equipped. 1n the normal position, before reciprocation of a torpedo-holder, the upper end of the arm 15 bears against the inner endl of the slot 114-. As shown in the right-hand portion of Fig. 3, however, the torpedoholder has been actuated and then incompletely retracted, the lugs 122 having4 engaged the outer ends of the fianges 123, thus arresting the retraction of the torpedoholder. 1n returning to the normal position shown in Fig. 3 the wrist-pin 20 on the mutilated gear 21 rocked the member 17 farther to the left than it is represented in Fig'. 3, and then returned it to the position represented in Fig. 3, the spring 128 yielding to permit this movement while the rockarm 15 remained stationar The slideactuating rock-arm 15 comprises, as shown in Fig. 13, two telescopic sections, one of which is pivotally connected with the rockshaft 16 and the other of which is pivotally connected with a slide 130 supported on a horizontally-disposed guide-rod 131. The slide 130 is equipped with an arm 132 which serves to actuate the rod 54 and thereby throw the clutch-member 50 into engagement with the clutch-member of the bevelrock-shaft 16 gear 47 when the rock-arm 15 returns to the eXtreme inner end of its traverse. Thus rotation of the carrier 8 is provided for only when the slide-actuating arm 15 returns to the extreme inner end of its traverse.

As has been indicated, the connecting means between the arm 18 which actuates the rock-shaft 16 and the wrist-pin 20 with which the mutilated-gear 21 is equipped comprises telescoping sections. Thus, as shown in Fig. 14, there is a sleeve 133 pivotally connected with the arm 18 and a rod 134 telescopically received by said sleeve and connected with a member 135 which is journaled on the wrist-pin 20. The member 135 is equipped with an electro-magnet 136. The sleeve 133 is equipped with a rigidlyconnected collar 137, which. carries, as shown in Fig. 15, a lug 138 which is joined by a bolt 139 to the armature 140 'of the magnet 136. Confined between the lug 1'38 and the armature 140 is a spring 141. designed to permit the armature to adjust itself properly to its pose under all conditions.- A positive locking device between the telescoping sections of the connectingrod 19 is provided so that it will not be necessary to depend wholly upon the pullof the A weight 129 This connection isV magnet for retracting the torpedo-holder in the event of the necessity for exertion of a strong pull, as where the torpedo-holder becomes frozen to th-e track. rlhis device comprises a pawl 142 mounted upon the sleeve 1.33 and adapted to engage a shoulder 143 with which the rod 134 is provided. A pin or cam 144 (Figs. 4 and 14) carried by one of the frame-plates 12 is so located as to engage the pawl 142 and effect a release at the moment the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 3, so that the lower section of the telescopic connecting-rod 19 will be free and ready to permit actuation oi the slide-actuati-ng arm 15 under the force of the weight 129 when the magnet 136 is denergized.

The mutilated-gear 21 is provided on one side with a stud 145 adapted to engage the arms 146 of a triangular member 147 carried by the gear 44, thereby aiding in setting the gear 44 in motion. The mutilated-gear 21 is equipped at 148 with a sufficient number of teeth to cause a one-third revolution of the gear 44. The gear 44 is normally locked against rotation by a pawl 149 which is supported on a pivot 150 and equipped with a weight 151. The lpawl 149 has a locking shoulder 152 adapted to engage any one of three lateral studs 153 with which the gear 44 is equipped. Said pawl 149 is further provided, as shown in Fig. 3, with a cam-arm 154 adapted to be engaged by a lateral stud 155 upon the farther side ol' the mutilatedgear 21, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, whereby the locking pawl will be preparatorily disengaged from the gear 44 an instant before the stud 145 engages one of the arms 146.

As shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 6a the drum 29 has the ratchet-wheel 30 rigidly connected with one end thereof, and the pawl 28 is carried by a pivot 156 projecting laterally 'from one side of the gear-wheel 26. Thus, motion will be transmitted from the drum to the gear 26 when the gravity motor is in operation; and, durin the winding operation, the ratchet-wheel wi l slip beneath the pawl.

As will be understood from Fig. 8, the mutilated gear 34 of the gear-train actuated by the winding motor operates through the medium of the gear 33 to turn the drum 29 in a direction to wind the cable 31 thereon and then becomes disconnected from the gear 33 so as to permit the weight 32 to operate the drum and the gear-train driven therefrom when the locking-lever of said gear-train is moved topermit said action. The gearsegment 34 is equipped with a lateral stud 157 adapted to engage arms 158 with which the gear 33 is equipped thereby aiding in setting said gear in motion when the winding motor is in operation. Said arms 158 are also adapted to engage the arm 95 of the switch 93 which controls the motor-circuit, so that said switch l93 will be positively thrown. to the hcircuit-closing position when the weight 32 descends to a given position, and will be positively thrown to the nonclosing position when the winding motor operates to restore the weight 32 to its normal position shown in Fig. 8. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, springs 159 are provided which tend to throw thel switch .93 to the open position shown in Fig. 8.

As will be understood from Fig. 16, the circuit 89 of the magnet 79 which controls the gear-train locking-lever 70 is equipped with contact-members 160, 161, the former of which is adapted to be moved by an arm 162 carried by the locking-lever 70, the disposition of the parts being such that when the locking-lever 70 is in the position shown in Fig. 16 the circuit 8O will be broken at the contact-points 160, 161. As has been indicated, the circuit is controlled by the magnet 87 through the medium of an armature 163 which also controls the circuit 88. A conductor of the circuit 8O is equippedwith a contact-point 164 with which the armature 163 is normally in contact, the other conductor of the circuit 80 being connected with said armature. Adjacent to the armature 163 is a contact-point 165 connected with a conductor 166 which forms a portion of the circuit of the magnet 84, the circuit for said magnet 84 being completed through that conductor of the circuit 80 which is connected with the armature 163. The circuit 8O is equipped with a battery 167. lt will now be understood that when the armature 163 is dropped the magnet 136 will be denergized, and the magnet 84 will be energized, it being borne in mind, also, that the magnet 83 will be denergized at the time the magnet 87 is denergized. Thus the magnet 84 will attract theadjacent end of the latch 81, thereby releasing the gear-train locking-lever 70, thus permitting the weight 73 to actuate the locking-lever and release the gear-train. Vhen this action occurs the contacts 160 and 161 are brought together, thereby closing the circuit 89 at that point, so that when the armature 163 is again attracted to the magnet 87 the circuit 80 will be completely established at the contact-point 164, thereby causing the magnet 79 to attract the lockinglever 70. This action occurs when the normal conditions in the track-circuits are reestablished after the torpedo-placing mechanism has been operated to project a torpedo.

As shown in Fig. 1, the circuit B1 is equipped with an electro-magnet 168 and a battery 169. The magnet 168 has an armature 17() controlling a circuit 171 having therein an electro-magnet 172, the circuit 171 being provided with a battery 173. The magnet 172 serves normally to hold elevated a visual signal or semaphore 174 and thus maintain in a normally closed condition an electric-circuit 175 having therein a battery 176 and an electro-magnet 177. The magvdirection indicated by the net 177 has an armature 178 controlling the circuit 85. As has already been eX lained, the circuit 85 controls the circuits s own in Fig. 16. The shank of the visual signal 174 forms a part of the circuit 1.75 and normally makes contact with a contact-point 179 in said circuit. ,i

Both track-rails of the yelectrically-insulated track-section A3 are connected with a track-battery 180 and the track-rails form a part of the electric-circuit B4. Said electriccircuit is equipped with a magnet 181 provided with an armature 182 on which is mounted a yielding circuit-changer or circuit breaker 183. The armature 182 is equipped near its extremity with a laterallyprojecting stud 184, and a spring 185 of adjustable tension tends to draw the armature away from its magnet and against a stop 186. The track-section A2 is equipped with a trackbattery 187 connected with both track-rails, andthe track-rails form a part ofthe electriccircuit B5. The electric-circuit B5 is further provided with a battery 188 and an electromagnet 189. The magnet 189 is provided with an armature 19() which serves as a locking-member for the armature 182 when the battery 1,87 is short-circuited; and a stop 191 is provided, which limits the outward movement of the armature 190 in case the circuit B5 is broken. The magnet 189 is further provided with an armature 192 of bellcrank shape, which is supported on av pivot 193 and equipped at its angle with a hook 194 adapted to engage a stud 195 on the armature 190. The armature 192 is limited in its drop by a stud 196, in the event of the breaking of the circuit B5. A spring 197 of adjustable tension is connected with the armature 192, and in the event of the weakening of the current passing through the magnet 189 as by short-circuiting oi the battery 187, the armature will be drawn slightly away from the magnet until the stud 1.95 engages the hook 194, in which condition the upper end of the armature 190 will rest beneaththe stud 184 and lock the armature 182, thus preventing breaking of the branch B3 ofthe circuit B1 if the battery'180 is shortcircuited at the same time that the battery 187 is short-circuited.

From the foregoing detailed description the operation will be readily understood: If the switch-point A5 be opened as illustrated in Fig. 1, the branch-circuit B2 being thereby opened, a train entering the section A3 in the arrow will deenergize the magnet 181 and permit the armature 182 to drop, thereby breaking the branch B3 of the circuit B1, denergizing the magnet 168, ermitting the visual signal 174 to drop, brea ing the circuit 175, denergizing the ymagnet 177, and breaking the circuit 85. When the circuit 85 is broken, the magnet 136 is denergized, permitting the j acent rail.

Weight 129 to actuate the ejector-arm 15 and project a torpedo to a position above the ad- At the same time, the magnet 83 is denergized and the ma net 84 energized, thereby releasing the latc 8l and permitting the weight 73 of the locking-lever 70 to move said locking-lever from the position which it normally occupies as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 16, thus releasing the gear-train and the gravity-motor which actuates it, whereupon the gravity-motor operates to turn the segmental magnet 186 to follow its armature, the levercontrolling cam-wheel 76 being operated at the same time to maintain the locking-lever in a neutral position until the recess 78 comes beneath the arm 75 of the locking-lever, whereu on the arm 75 of the locking-lever enters t e recess 78 of the cam-Wheel and the upper end ofthe locking-lever is brought into the path of the stop 69 on the fan-shaft 66, whereby the gear-train actuated by the gravity-motor is again locked. This occurs when the slide-actuating member 15 is at the outer end of its traverse and the torpedo occupies a position above the track-rail. At this time, the shoulder 142 engages the shoulder 143, locking the telescoping sections of the connecting-rod 19 together. It should be observed that in the event the weight 129 should, for any reason, be insufficient to wholly projectthe torpedo, the movement of the magnet 136 under the action of the mutilated gear 21 insures a completion of the movement of projection of the tor edo when the magnet, in its downward stro e, strikes against the armature 140.

Upon a restablishment of the circuit B1,

'as will occur when the switch A5 is shifted and the branch-circuit B2 is established, the circuits 171, 175 and 85 will be restablished, the magnet 87 energized, the circuits of the magnets 136, 79 and 83 will be restablished and the locking-lever shifted to its normal position and latched, thus releasing the stop 69 actuated by the gear-train, and permitting gear 21, thus causing the the gravity-motor to again actuate the gearl train which operates the rotary carrier and the torpedo-ejector, whereby the ejector will be retracted to withdraw the torpedo-holder from its position above the track-rail. In the event of non-explosion ofthe torpedo'before the gravity-motor operates to retract the torpedo-holder the shoulder 122 at the extremity of the torpedo-holder will engage the outer end o'f the torpedo-holder guide so that the torpedo will stop at the position shown in the right-hand portion of Fig. 3, the rock-shaft 16 being permitted, by'thel spring 128, to make an idle movement while the gear 21 is completing its revolution,

In the event that the torpedo is exploded before the torpedo-holder is retracted, the outer end of the torpedo-holder is destroyed andy the ejector arm 15 will `be permitted to complete its inward movement, Vin which case the arm 132 of the slide 130 will strike the rod 54 and throw the clutch-member 50 into engagement with the clutch-member of the beveled gear 47, whereupon the crank 49 will operate to turn the torpedo-carrier one step to bring a fresh torpedo into alinement with the opening 113. It should be here observed that the bell-crank lever 51 is equipped with a weight 198 (Fig. 3) which tends normally to hold the clutch-member 5() in the position shown in Fig. 3. As has been indicated, the stud 144 engages the pawl 142 an instant before the mutilated gear 21 reaches the position shown in Fig. 3 and disengages the locking-pawl so that the weight 129 will be free to actuate the ejector the instant the circuit of the magnet 136 is broken.

In the event that a train passes over the track in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, it is desirable that the torpedo-placing mechanism .shall not be operated. Assuming a portion of the train to be in the section A3 and a portion to be in the section A2, the batteries 180 and 187 will be short-circuited. The armature 19() will, therefore, move to a position to engage the stud 1.84 of the armature 182, the armature 190 being held in this position by the armature 192. Notwithstanding, therefore, the denergization of the magnet 181, the branch-circuit B3 will not be broken. Should the circuit B5 be broken, however, the armature 192 would drop, thereby permitting the armature 190 to fall back against its stop 191 and allow the armature 182 to drop, thereby causing a torpedo to be placed upon the track. An alarm, under such conditions, would serve to indicate a breakage of the circuit B5 and necessity for repairing the Same.

lt will be evident to those skilled in'the art that many or all of the features of the invention herein shown and claimed may be usefully employed in connection with block signals, railway-crossings, at switches to prevent fouling with main line, at curves, tunnels, water-tanks, and, in fact, wherever it is desirable to protect 'a section of a railwaytrack.

What we regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination with torpedo-carrying and projecting-mechanism, of gear-mechanism for actuating the same, a motor tending normally to move said gear-mechanism, means for restraining the mechanism from movement, and an automatically-controlled re-winding motor serving to re-wind said first-named motor.

2. The combination with torpedo-carrying and projecting-mechanism, of a motor tending normally to actuate the same, an electrically-controlled stoprestraining the mechanism from motion, and an electric winding motor having a circuit which is automatically established by the rst-named motor and which is automatically broken after the winding operation.

3. The combination with torpedo-,carrying and projecting-mechanism, of a gravity motor equipped with a circuit maker and breaker, electrically-controlled locking means normally restraining said motor from action, and a winding motor having a circuit controlled by said circuit maker and breaker.

4. The combination with torpedo-carrying and projecting mechanism, of a motor for actuating the same equipped with a weight and provided with a circuit breaker, a rewinding motor having a circuit equipped with a switch operated by said circuitbreaker, a latch for holding said switch in a closed position, and means actuated by the weight for releasing said latch after the winding operation.

5. rThe combination of a rotary carrier, torpedo-carrying slides mounted thereon, carrier-rotating mechanism, a slide-actuating member, a rock-shaft serving to actuate the slideactuating member in one direction,

lmeans tending normally to rotate the rockshaft to project a torpedo, a gear-train, a motor tending normally to rotate said geartrain, a two-part connecting member joining a gear of said gear-train to said rockshaft and equipped with a magnet normally restraining the rock-shaft from movement, and a re-winding motor.

6. The combination with torpedo-carrying and projecting-mechanism, of a gear-train serving to actuate the same, a gravity motor serving to actuate said gear-train, means normally restraining the gear-train from moving, and a re-winding motor with a geartrain having a segmental gear therein serving in the re-winding of said first-named motor.

7. The combination with torpedo-carrying and projecting-mechanism, of a gravity motor for actuating the same, means normally restraining said motor from action, and a rewinding motor equipped with means for effecting re-winding of said first-named motor, said means being disconnected from said first-named motor when the winding operation is completed, for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of a rotary carrier, slides mounted there on, carrier rotating mechanism, a slide-actuating member, a gravitymotor serving to actuate the carrier-actuating mechanism and the slide-actuating mechanism and controlled by the movement of said slide-actuating member, and means normally restraining the gravity-motor from. action.

9. The combination of a rotary carrier, slides mounted thereon, carrier rotating mechanism, a slide actuating member, a gravity-motor serving to actuate the carriermeans tending normally to move said locking-member in one direction, a cam-Wheel controlling the locking-lever and actuated by the gear-train, a latch for said lockinglever, a magnet controlling said latch, and a magnet controlling said locking-lever and having a normally open circuit, said locking- 20 lever having means for closing said circuit.

' ELLSWORTH E. FLORA.

ROBERT J. ZORGE.

Witnesses:

A. U. THORIEN, R. A. SOHAEFER. 

